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John 21: 20 – 25 | King James Audio Bible

20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Peter has been instructed by Jesus as to his mission in life, and his destiny. Now he turns to see John approaching, ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’, who leant on Jesus at the Last Supper, and Peter asks Jesus about what will happen to him in his life.

John is the one Apostle who not martyred. According to St Irenaeus, he lived into the reign of Trajan (AD 89-117), and rumours had circulated that John was not to die. John, therefore, wishes to tell people that this is not what Jesus had said; he repeats Jesus’ words, which seem mysterious.

We may interpret Jesus’ words as instructing Peter to focus on his own mission in life. Peter was curious, but Jesus restates his previous command: Follow me. We may often feel that our future and those of our friends are uncertain. We know, though, that the important thing is to follow Jesus, and he will show us the path ahead.

St John’s Gospel has brought us to the end of Christ’s time on earth, and in our celebrations to the eve of the gift of Pentecost. John, or perhaps his disciples, now includes two verses which affirm the historical veracity of what has been told us of Jesus. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, John’s experience of the life of Jesus has been at first hand: he was there to witness the teachings, the life and the miracles of our Lord. There will be much that has not been included, and perhaps it is no exaggeration to say that ‘the world itself could not contain the books that should be written’ should every work of Jesus be recorded. There is always something more to discover about Jesus, infinitely more, as he continues through all history to shape our lives.

‘Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.’ 1 John 5 1-4

King James Audio Bible | Endnotes

Beyond The Gospel | Travels And Ministry Of Saint John The Apostle

According to tradition, after the events recorded in the New Testament, John traveled to Ephesus, where he established a community of believers and became an important figure in the early Christian church. This tradition is supported by early Christian writings, including the writings of Irenaeus, who lived in the second century and wrote that John had preached in Asia Minor and had established churches in several cities, including Ephesus:

‘For when John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon His breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in Asia.’ Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 3.1.2.

There are also accounts of John traveling to other parts of Asia Minor and Greece, and even to India. These accounts are more uncertain and may be based on later legends and myths. Some accounts hold that John traveled with other disciples, including Philip and Bartholomew, and that he performed miracles and converted many people to Christianity along the way.

In addition to the Gospel of John and the three letters attributed to him in the New Testament, there are other writings associated with John, although their authenticity is debated. For example, the apocryphal Acts of John, mentioned earlier, includes stories of John’s ministry and teachings. Another apocryphal work, the Gospel of John the Evangelist, presents a different account of John’s life and teachings, and is believed to have been written in the second century:

‘And when they [the disciples] came to John, they said: Master, behold the Lord Jesus Christ, who yesterday appeared to thee on the mount of Olives, ascendeth into heaven. And John answering, said: Ye heard the Lord saying to us: Verily, verily, I say unto you, It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you.’ Gospel of John the Evangelist, 41:1-2.

Saint John’s Ministry

Tradition holds that John played an important role in the early Christian church, serving as a bishop or leader of the community. There are various stories of his ministry, including accounts of him baptizing converts and performing miracles. For example, the apocryphal Acts of John, a second-century work that is not part of the New Testament, describes John healing the sick and raising the dead:

‘And after he had baptized them, he healed their diseases and their bodily infirmities; and the people rejoiced, saying: This is indeed a prophet who hath been raised up unto us, and not one of the prophets who have been before him.’ Acts of John, 15:2.

There are also stories of John writing letters to the churches he had established, although only three letters attributed to John are included in the New Testament.

Saint John’s Death

The details of John’s death are unclear and are the subject of discussion among scholars and historians. According to one tradition, John was exiled to the island of Patmos, where he received the visions that formed the basis of the book of Revelation. This tradition is supported by early Christian writings, including the writings of the Church Father Eusebius.

Eusebius, a fourth-century historian and bishop of Caesarea, wrote extensively about early Christianity and its leaders. Regarding John, he wrote:

‘John, last of all, seeing that the Gospels were already written down, urged by his friends and inspired by the Spirit, composed a spiritual Gospel.’ – Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 3:24

Eusebius wrote that the Gospel of Saint John was written last among the four canonical gospels. He also attests that the gospel was written with divine inspiration, which is consistent with the belief that the Holy Spirit guided the writing of Scripture. Eusebius’s account is significant because it provides a glimpse into how the early Christian leaders viewed the gospel of John and its author.

The Book of Revelation, also called Apocalypse, is attributed to Saint John. He writes:

‘I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.’ – Revelation 1:9.

Another tradition holds that John was released from exile and returned to Ephesus, where he lived to an old age and died a natural death. This tradition is also supported by early Christian writings, including the writings of Polycarp, a disciple of John who lived in the second century:

‘John the apostle and disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon his breast, he too set forth the Gospel while he was yet in the body at Ephesus’ – Polycarp, Letter to the Philippians, 8:2

There are also stories of John being persecuted and martyred for his faith, although the details of his death are uncertain and are not supported by any clear historical evidence.

Further patristic accounts include:

• Clement of Alexandria: A third-century theologian and head of the Christian catechetical school in Alexandria, Clement of Alexandria wrote extensively on Christian doctrine and the history of the church. In his work The Instructor, he refers to John as the ‘apostle of love,’ and suggests that the Gospel of John was written to complement the other gospels:

‘The Gospel according to John has for its design to declare that this Word, who is the only-begotten Son of God, Himself also, who at the beginning was with God, by whom all things were made, was in these last times, according to the time appointed by the Father, united to His own creature man, in order to abolish death and make alive all things.’ Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor, 1:6

Here, Clement emphasizes the divine nature of Jesus and the purpose of the gospel in proclaiming his identity as the Son of God.

• Tertullian: A second-century Christian writer and theologian, Tertullian wrote extensively on Christian doctrine and apologetics. In his work Against Marcion, he defends the authenticity of the Gospel of John against the claims of the heretic Marcion, who rejected the Old Testament and several books of the New Testament:

‘For although Marcion rejects John, still he recognizes the Gospel of John, which, if it be not John’s, assuredly owes its existence to John’s heretic, as I shall prove in its own place.’ – Tertullian, Against Marcion, 4:2.

Here, Tertullian argues that even Marcion, who rejected John’s authority as an apostle, recognized the importance of the Gospel of John as a valuable source of information about the life and teachings of Jesus.

• Origen: A third-century Christian theologian and scholar, Origen wrote extensively on Christian doctrine and scriptural interpretation. In his work Commentary on John, he provides a detailed analysis of the Gospel of John and its significance for understanding the nature of Christ:

‘We must approach this Gospel, then, with the greatest care and attention, and seek to penetrate its depths as deeply as we can, and then to express what we have discovered about its many-sided profundities.’ – Origen, Commentary on John, Prologue.

Here, Origen emphasizes the importance of careful study and interpretation of the Gospel of John in order to fully understand its theological and spiritual significance.

These accounts provide valuable insights into how early Christian writers viewed John and his writings, and attest to his importance as a leader in the early Christian Church.